Toledo Start comes back to beat Lakota West in Division I semifinal

Dan Labbe, OhioHSsports.com, March 20, 2009 8:48 p.m.

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Toledo Start's Maleeka Kynard, left, and West Chester Lakota West's Kindsay Brandt chase a loose ball during the first quarter of their Division I state semifinal game. - (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Toledo Start didn't have a lead in their Division I semifinal game with Lakota West until Azia Bishop made a free throw with 5:57 remaining in the fourth quarter. Once they got the lead they didn't look back despite a furious finale.

The Spartans made their free throws late to clinch the game, but it wasn't decided until Lakota West's Alexis Rogers, who scored 27 points to go with eight rebounds, turned the ball over as the Firebirds looked for a tying three-pointer with 1.9 seconds to play. Kynard Maleeka sealed the deal for the Spartans to get them to their final winning margin of 61-56.

"We've struggled with free throws this year, but in the biggest games when we've needed them we hit them," said Start coach Rob Brown.

Start also had to survive losing star Yolanda Richardson to fouls with 46 seconds to play.

"I knew my team was going to step it up," said Richardson. "I was just on the bench anxious, but I knew my team was going to take care of it."

In a rare sight in these semifinals, both teams shot well in the first half. Start shot 10-of-15 for 66.7% while Lakota West shot 11-of-19 for 57.9%. For the game, Start shot 61.3% while Lakota West fell back to 44.2%.

The key for the Firebirds in building their 30-24 halftime lead was Start turnovers. Lakota West scored 14 points off of 11 Spartans miscues including eight points off six Start turnovers in the first quarter.

"I think we were nervous," said Brown. "We just kept fighting. I know they don't give up."

Toledo Start will play Mount Notre Dame on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m.